Today I find myself generally agreeing with krellin a lot - strange but makes sense. It's funny because you would think Thucy would be the one against a lot of *generally* rich white old men telling lots of *generally* poor young minorities to go die in some east european shithole (or arab/african from his comments), for something that doesn't really affect them, only to put in a regime that fits better with western interests. Don't get me wrong, I AM NOT AN ISOLATIONIST, but there is a difference between being an isolationist and not wanting to send our young men (or maybe not yours, thucy, i guess you're not from the overly-minority and poor population of the military) out to countries they don't care about, just so they can come back in body bags.

I probably have more friends in the military than you, krellin, so watch yourself. I also had the opportunity to attend West Point but declined to pursue it.

Europe isn't doing anything because its not ready yet. But they're making preparations. They've already frozen one of the natural gas pipelines that goes into Europe via Ukraine. They're also securing long term contracts with other suppliers and lobbying the US to allow exports of our natural gas. They won't do anything until they lessen the blow, but they'll act. And Germany has, as of late, taken a much harder tone on Russia.

I have said before and was serious, as long as the personal dimension of this discussion is in play, that if the US actually did get caught up in a hot war with Russia, I would join the military. There are, it may surprise you to know, some people younger than the "greatest generation" who would be willing to risk their lives for something worthwhile.

Like, you know global peace and integration. That's the crown jewel of our time and you bet your ass I'd risk bleeding out in a Ukrainian ditch to protect it.

Now that I've reiterated that let's bring it back away from the personal issues shall we? Yes it's garbage that the rich and old send the young and poor to die for their wars.

But some wars, ultimately, are just. I would fight in a just war. I would hate every second of it because the entire enterprise is one protracted tragedy, as any war is, but sometimes sadly, things do come to blows.

After WW1 the idea of a "war to end war" became a laughingstock. However, the point was made, and at this stage that is the only war that can be just.

If we are going to talk about the injustice of war, let's talk about the affront to morality and decency that is Vladimir Putin, playing dice with the lives of his soldiers, the lives of the hopeless masses of Russian civilians in a decaying economy, and ultimately the lives of everyone in the entire world. As he enjoys the corrupt perks of the Kremlin for the umpteenth year.

It's not like Putin isn't self-aware. He knows he and Obama are writing world history.

This fact compounds his reckless selfishness.

Wait a second, is Krellin telling people they should join the military?

Isn't he a non-veteran individual?

Wouldn't that make him a chickenhawk?

" I also had the opportunity to attend West Point but declined to pursue it"

Did you go take the physical? That was one hell of a physical, I tell ya. If only I hadn't been color blind, I could have gone to either West Point or New London (Coast Guard, my first choice). But alas, my color vision sucks.

Oh, and who gave you the appointment? Tom Kindness gave me the nod.

No, but I had a recruiter from them contact me. Living only half an hour from them helped haha. But varsity athlete + Eagle Scout + honors student + Boys State really put me in their cookie cutter mold.

West Point doesn't recruit (or they didn't back then). You had to get a Congressional nomination and each Congress man got one per year. A little research shows they recruit for football, but nothing else. All other cadet wannabes have to go through the process I did.

Hmm, maybe it was just a plain old army recruiter then. Well that's less impressive.

I just remember everyone was saying how I'd be a perfect fit - and how half of all service academy recruits are Eagle Scouts, etc etc.

Back on topic though.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117357/despite-pro-soviet-protests-majority-ukrainians-lean-toward-europe

I actually just realized the military would probably not take me cause of all of the drugs I have done lmao. But then again if war really does break out, they might have enough good sense to waive whatever those standards may be today.

Dude, go on reddit. So many stories of people hotboxing Abrams tanks in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I have seen war...I hate war"

Don't worry, Thucy, unless you have buggered up your body or mind, or are still using, the drugs question is just an intelligence test. People who say they have taken drugs or have managed to get themselves a criminal record are generally too stupid to be trusted with a rifle. If I were you I'd be far more concerned about the personality tests.

As a point of clarification, that last sentence was not intended to sound insulting.

Hahahahaha so I've been considering doing an anonymous kidney donation but apparently you have to undergo a psychiatric evaluation for that. I'm like... Oh shit is the doc gonna think I'm nuts

Maybe instead of an anonymous kidney donation, you should join the military and make sure they have enough cannon fodder should your wishes for meddling in European-based conflicts come true. Educated white boy....you're officer material, boy! Lead the charge!

?? what does that have to do with the kidney?

If I only have one kidney will they not let me into the military? Or something

That's a good plan. Sell your kidney for $250,000 in the US on the black market, don't get drafted... set for life and you don't have to go get yourself shot in the face.

250gs is set for life? What are you? A Hoosier from rural Indiana?

If you get it all in cash, it doesn't get taxed. Put away what you don't need, grab it again in 20 years and see what you have then, or better yet, set up a 401K with an employer where (s)he matches your investment each year and see what you have in 50 years.

And, by the way... no, $250,000 is not set for life.

You'd aid it was. I agree that 250gs invested right at a young age can set you up for retirement. You are mistaken on the 401k and matching contributions though as those have to come.out of salary contributions and are capped to a certain percentage and amount by the federal government. Even traditional and Roth IRAs has annual contribution limits. You also need to launder it and feed it into your legitimate accounts slowly over time to be able to invest with it or a red flag will pop up on the FBI's RICO tracking systems.

I think 250k could be set for life but no I'm not selling my kidney I'm donating it you fuckheads

Thucy, I was being sarcastic, it's Draug that makes everything serious. Don't sell your kidney. That'd be evil.

Draug, I don't know anything about 401k's, and I don't care, so don't try to educate me, please.

@Thucy - with the present rate of interest, you'd get between 2,500 and 5,000 per year (yes year) if you didn't touch principle. You could also use 5k per year principle for 50 years, but your interest earned would drop by 25 to 50 dollars each year if you touched the principle that way. Food costs more than $50 a week...

If you're shooting Russians surely you're better off selling their kidneys? Play your cards right and you'll be able to make a fortune and save more lives than you take. Everybody wins!

"Food costs more than $50 a week..."

Au contraire mon ami, lol.
*goes back to tending garden, sprouting seeds, and making yogurt*
"huehuehue what does dregnar know anyway"

And also I didn't really take set for life to mean you never have to work again, but whatever this is a ridiculously moot point. Selling your kidney is at least as illegal as, like, importing mangosteens